Thread magazine



Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE THREAD MAGAZINE .iol/m C. Schirrmacher, Jersey City, N. J.

Application December 23, 1944, Serial No. 569,576

Claims. l 1

This invention relates to a magazine or dispenser for threads of various colors and more particularly to a container having means for carrying a plurality of spools of multi-colored threads with the free ends of the threads disposed for convenient access at all times.

One object of my invention is to provide a mul-- ti-colored panel or screen through which the threads are passed in such manner that a thread of any desired color may be conveniently selected by the user. Another object is to provide suitable means for mounting the threadcarry ing spools and for preventing too free rotation thereof, and still another object is to provide spool-carrying spindles which are pivotally mounted in the container in such manner that the spools may be replaced without difficulty.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood ythat various changes in the construction and design may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacriiicing any ofthe advantages thereof, and the container or magazine may form a self-contained unit or may form an integral or attached part of a cabinet, table, sewing-machine, or other article of furniture or equipment.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a face view of the magazine with the front portion partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the spindles and its coe operating parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the magazine or thread-dispenser-in the form here showncomprises a tray portion consisting of a base or bottom d and upstanding edges 5 to one of which an inner frame 6 is connected by hinges 'I. The frame 6 is shaped to iit the space enclosed by the upstanding edges 5 and is formed with integral parallel partitions 8 so as to form spaces for the accommodation of rows of spools S. Secured to the edges of the parts 6 and 8, so as to form a panel o1l screen that lies flush with the faces of the upstanding edges 5 when the magazine is closed, are two plies of fabrican inner ply It of strong cotton or other cloth and an outer ornamental ply II of silk or other more decorative material, and secured on the exposed face of the outer material I I are rows of colored rings l2 each of which is located in close proximity to one of the spools 9 and is colored to correspond 2 with the color of the thread carried by that spool. The cloth I!) is cut on the bias and the material II on the straight as clearly shown at Fig. l, so that the yarns of the adjacent plies are disposed at 45 degrees to each other. In operation the free end of the thread on a spool is threaded through the eye of a needle which is Ithlen passed-from the back of the screen-through the fabrics Il) and II and through the adjacent ring I2 so that the conspicuously colored ring indicates the color of the thread whose free end hangs from the front of the screen, and with the rings thus serving' as color guides the user may draw out from the front of the screen a thread of the desired length and color and then cut the thread so as to leave a hanging end in readiness for the next use of a thread of the same color.

The frictional contact between the threads and the fabrics IlJ, II provides the resistance necessary to prevent too free movement of the threads, and in order to prevent overrunning of the spools when threads have been pulled out, each spool is provided with suitable braking means shown more clearly at Fig. 3 where a spool-carrying spindle I3 is shown extending between partitions 8 of the frame. One end of the said spindle is carried on a pivot pin I4 in a recess I5 in a partition 8 while the opposite end of the spindle is provided with a spring-pressed knob or dome I6 adapted to engage a hole in a face plate II secured on the side of the adjacent partition, so that the spindle may be readily swung into or out of position and is normally held in place by spring action. Near its pivoted end the spindle I3 is provided with a slot I8 which accommodates the end of a light spring I9 and while one end of this spring presses against the end of a spool on the spindle the other end presses against a washer 2l) that lies against the partition 8, so that the spool is pressed against the face-plate I'I and the desired braking action is obtained.

When it is desired to renew or change a spool on a spindle, the latter is swung upwardly so that the washer 20 is moved from the flat face of the side of the partition 8 until it engages the at face of the upper edge of the said partition in which position the spindle is held by the action of the spring I9 and the spool may be conveniently removed or replaced.

The screen IU, II normally serves as a dustproof cover for the magazine which is opened only when it becomes necessary to replace an empty spool, and to facilitate opening of the magazine one of the upstanding edges 5 may be recessed at 2| and suitable spring catches or retaining means may be provided.

Although the drawings and the above specication disclose the b'est modes in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, desire to be in no Way limited to the details of such disclosure, for, in the further practical applica tion of my invention many changes in iorm and construction may be made without departing from the: spirit of the invention, and it will be readily runderstood that the parts may be made of wood, metal, plastic, or other suitable or convenient material or combination of materials, and the magazine or dispenser may be embodied in or combined with other articles.

What I claim is:

1. A thread magazine or dispenser of the character described comprising enclosed means for the accommodation of a plurality of spools of multicolored threads, a screen consisting of bias and straight cut fabrics serving as an enclosure for said spools, and a plurality of colored members secured to the face of said screen, each in proximity to one of the spools and each colored to correspond with the color of its adjacent spool to serveas an indicator of the color of the thread passingthrough the screen from said spool.

2. A-thread magazine or dispenser of the chai acter described comprising a frame carrying a plurality of thread spools, means for preventing too free rotation of said spools, a screen of straight and bias cut woven fabric mounted on said frame and penetrated by the threads from said spools at points spaced from each other, and a colored ring secured to said screen and surrounding each of said spaced points.

3. A thread magazine or dispenser of the character described comprising a frame carrying a plurality of thread spools, means for preventing too free rotation of said spools, a fabric screen of strong bias cut woven cloth and decorative outer straight cut woven material secured on the front face of said frame and penetrated by the threads from said spools whereby frictional contact of the threads with the fabric retards the threads movement through the fabrics, a colored member secured to the screen and encircling the point of penetration of each thread and having a color corresponding to such thread, and a back member for said frame whereby the spools are completely enclosed.

4. A thread magazine or dispenser of the character described comprising a screen consisting of a strong inner fabric and a decorative outer fabric with the threads of the one fabric arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to the threads of the other fabric, said screen being penetrated by a plurality of threads of different colors, means on the screen for indicating the color of each penetrating thread, a frame located behind the screen and carrying spools for said threads, a spindle for each spool, and a spring serving to exert a braking action on each spool.

5. A thread magazine or dispenser of the character described comprising a screen consisting of a strong inner fabric and a decorative outer fabric with the threads'of the one fabric arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to the threads of the other fabric, said screen being penetrated by a plurality of threads of different colors, means on the screen for indicating the color of each penetrating thread, a frame located at the back of the screen and carrying spools for said threads, a spindle for each spool, a spring-pressed knob at one end of each spindle, a pivot at the opposite end, and means for eiiecting a braking action on the spool and for holding the spindle in position for removal and replacement of the spool.

JOHN C. SCHIRRMACHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,914 Hamilton July 10, 1877 654,454 Houghton July 24, 1900 2,226,430 Handzelek Dec. 24,1940 349,096 Hoffman Sept. 14, 1886 820,596 Norwood May 15, 1906 

